Ventilated welding mask apparatus

Abstract

A ventilated welding mask is disclosed having a three chamber housing mounted thereon. A blower fan is positioned within a second medial chamber. On the rear wall of the second medial chamber, a nozzle is mounted. A conduit extends from this nozzle to an air flow manifold positioned with the welding mask.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 
     
       1. A ventilated welding mask apparatus, comprising, a unitary helmet member, the helmet member including spaced side walls, a forward wall, and a viewing window, the forward wall including a forward wall exterior surface and a forward wall interior surface, and the viewing window extending through the forward wall, and   a securement strap member mounted to the side walls, and   the top wall including a housing member, the housing member including air flow means, and   an air flow conduit directed to the housing member, and   the air flow means arranged for directing air flow through the air flow conduit, and   an air flow manifold, and   a lower terminal end of the air flow conduit directed to the air flow manifold, and   the air flow manifold including a plurality of apertures to direct air flow from the air flow conduit through the air flow manifold, and the air flow manifold fixedly mounted to the interior surface of the top wall spaced above and parallel the viewing window, with the air flow manifold directed substantially coextensive with the interior surface of the top wall, and   the air flow means is mounted within the housing member, and the air flow means includes a first lower chamber mounted within the housing member, and a second medial chamber positioned above the first lower chamber within the housing member, and a third top chamber mounted within the housing member above the second medial chamber, and the second medial chamber includes a second medial chamber rear wall, and a nozzle mounted to the second medial chamber rear wall, wherein the air flow conduit is secured to the nozzle remote from the air flow manifold.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first lower chamber includes a first lower chamber floor and a first lower chamber side wall, with the first lower chamber side wall including a switch member, and at least one battery mounted within the first lower chamber, and the first lower chamber including a first lower chamber roof, and a blower fan motor mounted within the second medial chamber on the first lower chamber roof, and the switch operative to direct electrical energy to the lower frame member for selective actuation of the blower fan member. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second medial chamber includes a second medial chamber roof, and the second medial chamber roof includes a matrix of apertures directed therethrough, and the third top chamber includes a third chamber lid, the third chamber lid hingedly mounted to the third chamber, and the third chamber lid including a clasp mounted to a forward edge of the third chamber lid, and the third chamber further including a third chamber forward wall, and the clasp securably and removably mounted relative to the third chamber forward wall, and the third chamber forward wall further including an inlet screen coextensive with the third chamber forward wall. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein a cooling medium is mounted within the third top chamber, wherein the third chamber lid permits selective replenishment of the cooling medium. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the cooling medium includes carbon dioxide. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the manifold includes a manifold rear wall, the manifold rear wall has secured thereto the lower terminal end of the air flow conduit, and the manifold further including a manifold bottom wall, the manifold bottom wall including a series of equally spaced bottom wall apertures directed therethrough. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein at least one conical plug member is provided, and the conical plug member is removably mounted within at least one of said bottom wall apertures to permit selective metering of air flow through the bottom wall apertures.